Vacuum-controlling device for player-pianos.



E. s. wanoujw. VACUUM CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR,PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICATION flLED APR. 7. -l9\5.

Patented Feb.

h Arm/MM INVENTOR nnwnr wnnomn, or BROOKLYN, ivnw YORK, Assieuon'ro any,

.. on NEW" YO'RK,,N. Y.

I vacuum -oo v'rnohmne fnnvrcn ron r mivnitq g d" 6 ,89 .f if

' j Application'filedAprlPT, 1915. sewn no. 19,785. :45;. E

Be it known thatI, EDWIN way the action is caused to express accurately, the forte or piano effects desired b, the operator. I

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 1s a longitudinal section partly in side view of a vacuum controlling device embodying my invention, showing the pneumatic collapsed; Fig. 2 a similar section through the lower part of the device, showing the pneumatic expanded; Fig. 3 a plan partly in section of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a cross section of the end of the vacuum chamber, showing its connection with the-suction pipe.

The device consists essentially of an elbow pipe 1, leading from the equalizing bellows of a pump (not sho'sn) to the gate box 2 which communicates by suction pipe 3, with the vacuum chambers of the pneumatics as usual. During playing the suction produced by the Jump will cause a corresponding suction to e created in chamber 4, which by the action'of the usual valves actuates the hammer in the usual manner. If it is desired by the operator to change from loud to soft, he 7 will accordingly slow up on the pump. But inasmuch as there stillexists a high suction in the pump bellows, the valves will be at first still under the influence of this high suction, so that a quick response of the action is not obtained. To obviate this defeet I have devised the following construction: To one of the boards of gate box 2 there is afiixed a small pneumatic 5 which communicates with the interior of the box by means of an air duct 6. From the movable member 7 of tl'e pneumatic projects an arm 8 which by rod 9, is connected to a; cranked spindle 10 passing diametrically through pipe3. Spindle 10 carries a disk valve 1]. which in its vertical position leayes pipe 3 unobstructed, while it closes the pipe when swung across the same. The throw I, speeiagaiiba Lettersiatent. I i

S Vv J 01? TOD-(29 is chgcked'by mgg gf' j p V ERQLIN ins exten i-nlate-a",--i.,;f citizen ofthe lilnitedStatesfandaresident" p 7 g rilkyiml gm 149m md of Brooklyn," in the county-Qof'Kings and State of New.Yorlr, have 'in'vented certain new and useful Improvements; in Vacuumi' j Controlling Devices for Player-"Pianosy of whichythe toll win'gis-"a specification. i f jThis' 'invention relates tof novel and eflifcient means for, automatically regulating. "the suction in the-1 neuma tics ofa'playeri piano v and checking f any un due influenceofthepunip bellows 'on' the same so that in this s'braces' a-second screwfrod lg depenplipg from "wardly from the fixed ;member 1 u scertained by means 1o W138 extending upwardly 1 and cooperatmg with a scale lfiflormed on 7 action with full force.

P may be ointel; '5, likeea aa iiier 1i matic 5. 'The position rod 9.

.a-zi mflt-1C5, 1S n'fluencedgbysa spring; 1'1, Psicmiid 0116f of fi ds ta meaabls m ber 1;, while its otherng a pjegtnreglg d box 2. A regulating buttbn 19 carrying a washer 20 and mounted upon rod 18, so as to form a seat for spring 17, permits the tension of thelatter to be adjusted. When during forte playing'suction is created in the pump bellows, the resulting suction in the gate box, will by duct 6, exhaust pneumatic 5 and thus collapse the same against action of spring 17. In this way valve 11 will be opened (Fig. 1) and a correspondingly high suction will be formed in the vacuum chamber 4, so as to operate the If new the tone is to be lowered more or less, suction in the pump bellows is reduced and consequently the suction in box 2 is also reduced to such an extent as to permit spring 17 to expand pneumatic 5 and thus throw valve 11 more or less across pipe 3 (Fig. 2 The valve will by being thus automatically interposed between the vacuum chamber 4: and the pump bellows, serve to check the undue influence of any excessive suction present in said bellows from acting on the valves and hammers of the action. If the action of the pump be again increased, the vacuum in box 2 will be correspondingly increased, so that the valve 11 will again open and place the action under stronger suction.

It will be seen that by my invention a quick response of the action is obtained so that any interpretation desired by the player ing the valve on a'contraction of the bellows and for closing the valve on an expansion of the bellows, and a vacuum chamber of a self-player action communicating with the w E2. device of the character described, comprising a pipe adapted to be placed under variable suction, a gate box communieating with the pipe and adapted to bev placed under corresponding variable suction, a pneumatic communicating with the pipe through said gate box and adapted to be automatically expanded or contracted comprising a pipe adapted to be placed under variable suction, a pneumatic communicating with said pipe and adapted to- 'comprisin be automatically expanded or contracted upon a decrease or increase of said suction. a spring secured to the movable member of the pneumatic, means for regulating the tension of said spring, a valve controlling the pipe, means for opening the valve on a con traction of the bellows and for closing the valve on an expansion of the bellows, and a vacuum chamber of a self-player action communicating with the pipe.

4. A device of the character described,

under 'varlable suction, a pneumatic communicating with said pipe and adapted to be automatically expanded or contracted upon a decrease or increase] of said suction,

a cranked spindle passing diametrically through the pipe, a valve mounted on said spindle, means for operably securingthe pneumatic to the spindle, and a vacuum chamber of a, self-player action communicating withthe pige,

E WIN S. WEROLIN.

a pipe adapted to be; placed 

